It's a hugely varied list of cars that made up the top ten fastest times at the Festival of Speed in 2024. In at number ten is a man who holds many records over at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, and is no stranger to the Goodwood Hill. Nick Padmore was on top form as always in his Lotus 77, hurling his historic Formula 1 racer through the first two turns before unleashing that Cosworth DFV up past the House. His run on Saturday was his fastest, as he crossed the finish line in 49.86 seconds.
Next, a jump in time to the present day with the Ford Puma Rally1 driven by current WRC driver Adrien Formaux. A rally driver through and through, he couldn’t help but scythe over the grass before keeping it neat and tidy through Molecomb, making the most of the Puma’s four-wheel drive to power up the Hill for a time of 49.82 seconds.
Current leader of the BTCC drivers’ championship Jake Hill returned to the Festival of Speed once again, but not in his natural habitat. This year he was driving a Nissan Skyline GTR R32, and his performance was as dramatic as ever. A huge sideways moment through Molecomb was the highlight, but his supreme car control was on show throughout as he broke through the 49-second barrier.
Somewhat less exuberant but no less impressive was the Czinger 21C, a hybrid hypercar producing almost 1,000PS (735kW). It’s a remarkable piece of engineering made up of 3D printed parts, and driver Chris Ward was pushing hard as he brushed the bales towards the top of the Hill, dislodging a wing mirror as he went. His time of 48.83 was the sum of some substantial effort.
Talking of effort, the Alpine A110 Pikes Peak gave us one of the best photos of the weekend as Astier Raphael got some substantial air pressing on past the House. The car itself is spectacular enough when all four wheels are on the ground, and its performance on the Hill was reflective of its success at Pikes Peak.
Another competition car is next, in the form of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Porsche driver James Wallis was at the wheel, and he did himself proud to push that roaring flat-six to an impressive time of 48.05 seconds.
Fourth fastest of the weekend was Travis Pastrana, whose weekend came to an unfortunate end in the bales at Molecomb, but before that he was up to his usual tricks as he engaged full send whenever he was on the Hill in his Subaru GL ‘Huckster’. He just can’t help but get the thing sideways, and we’re so grateful for that. Even with all the acrobatics, he still managed to cross the line in 47.5 seconds.
Into the top three now, and onto one of our favourite cars of the weekend, the Gurney Eagle FA74 Formula 5000 car in the hands of Michael Lyons. That roaring 5.0-litre V8 engine sounded absolutely phenomenal, and it was mighty quick, too, climbing the Hill in 47.34 seconds.
The fastest two cars of the weekend were in a class of their own at the front. Second was the Subaru WRX: Project Midnight, a monster built specifically for this kind of thing. Focused on achieving victory in the Timed Shootout, there were no histrionics in this run, just outright speed. The time of 45.15 was hugely impressive.
But, not as impressive as the fastest car (or should we say van?) of the weekend. Romain Dumas is now a three-time winner of the Festival of Speed Timed Shootout. He won twice previously in the Volkswagen ID.R, and last year came close in the first iteration of the new Ford Supervan. Ford returned this year with the Supervan 4.2, and this year Dumas was imperious in his conquering of the Hill. He saved his best until last, setting a remarkable 43.99 second climb to win the Shootout. We’re huge fans of this monumental machine, and it fully deserved its victory.
